TOP 5 REASONS WHY PCSOs are good for the public! they're out there, on the street, approachable they have local knowledge they have a genuine interest in and commitment to neighbourhood issues they have the time to support victims they tackle anti-social behaviour

On 10 July 2002 John Denham, the Minister of State for the Home Office, informed Parliament that the power of detention given to Community Support Officers (CSOs) would be introduced in a controlled manner.

Specifically, he stated: “We want to allow for [the power] to be tested in practice in a sufficient number of varied forces to gain experience of its operation before it is made available to all forces in England and Wales.” The Police Reform Act 2002 makes provision for Community Support Officers to be designated with the power of detention. Where a CSO has reason to believe that a person has committed a relevant offence he or she may require that person to supply their name or address.

A relevant offence is defined as either a fixed penalty offence or an offence which has caused injury or alarm to another person or the loss of or damage to property. If the individual concerned refuses to give a name or address or the CSO suspects that the details that have been given a re false then the CSO may ‘require the person to wait with them for up to 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable’1.

Alternatively the CSO may accompany the person to a police station with that person’s agreement. Any person who fails to wait with the CSO as required or who tries to make off is guilty of an offence.

CSOs may use reasonable force in order to detain a person, but they are not supplied with handcuffs, batons or CS spray. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) with the assistance of the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) undertook an evaluation of the use of this power and this report summarises the results of the evaluation.

The evaluation involved all six forces undertaking the pilot and covered a 15-month period from January 2003 to March 2004.

To read more about the evaluation click on the link above but meanwhile WELCOME to Police Community Support Officer. Com

The site is obviously here to support PCSOs and provide as much information for you as possible.

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